Mauricio: old friends

English Barclays Premiership

Mauricio Taricco will be keeping a closer eye than most on our opening day opponents Ipswich Town.

The Argentinian full-back was a firm favourite in five seasons at Portman Road and shared the club's delight when they finally won promotion back into the Premiership last season.

Taricco will put that sentiment aside when Town visit the Lane on Saturday. He has more than enough on his mind anyway - like whether or not he will start against his former club after the arrival of L5m man Ben Thatcher from Wimbledon this summer. The smart money suggests Thatcher will get the nod.

The 27-year-old admitted: "It would be a disappointment not to play against Ipswich, but that is the Premiership. It is the price you play for being at a big club. I could have chosen to stay at Ipswich and probably had a definite place. I made my decision and I stick by it.

"I still have friends there. I thought they fully deserved to be in the Premiership after being so close for many years. They tried for four or five years to get back and finally made it.

"Survival has to be their target now and if they do that, they can then build on it. Being in the Premiership means a lot of money and it is important to stay there. I'm looking forward to the game like anyone else and looking for three points. It is important we make a good start."